BN livid its billboards vandalised, says 'extremists' ban justified

S'WAK POLLS Tempers are rising in the Sarawak election campaign, with billboards and flags of the opposing parties found vandalised.

In Sibu yesterday, the buntings of BN direct candidate Janet Lau were painted over, while in Kuching, BN and PKR candidates found their campaign materials damaged.

In Batu Kawah, Kuching, SUPP's Sim Kui Hian and BN direct candidate Wong Soon Koh found their billboards either splashed with paint or burned, local newspaper See Hua Daily reported today.

Wong's billboard at Westbank and Sim's billboard at Jalan Stephen were torched yesterday.

"That's why (caretaker Chief Minister) Adenan Satem stopped those extremists from entering Sarawak," Wong's operation centre said in a statement.

The statement was referring to the mass banning of opposition leaders and activists from the peninsula from entering Sarawak.

Police are investigating these reported acts of vandalism under Section 435 of the Penal Code.

PKR's Tupong candidate Norhanim Hana Mokhsen also lodged a police report today, after PKR flags at Jalan Semarak were torched.

She said the BN flags nearby were left untouched.

"I regret that this has happened and I hope the Election Commission will take proactive measures," Norhanim, the candidate for Tupong, said.

"We paid a deposit and I hope the EC can monitor the situation. We hope this will not recur and that police can take further action," she added.

Sarawak goes to the polls on May 7. -Mkini